Looking Back at NCAA Session ILooking Back at NCAA Session I

Looking Back at NCAA Session I

March 15, 2018

CLEVELAND - Amid an interesting opening session for top-ranked Penn State, when it comes to the team score, there's certainly more to the story than what's listed in the team standings. Met with unusual early adversity, Penn State regrouped from a pair of early losses and rallied with seven bonus point victories to begin the NCAA national championships.

Just a little more than 24 hours ago it was senior Zain Retherford who said his focus isn't on anything else other than scoring points and enjoying the moment. The Nittany Lions needed just that from the top-seeded Nittany Lion, who sparked a bonus point streak putting Penn State on the board.

Retherford built up a 5-1 lead headed into the third period before dialing up the offense to finish with a 16-1 tech fall against Eastern Michigan's Kyle Springer. Retherford's win sets up a meeting with Maryland's Alfred Bannister, who he pinned earlier this year in just 1:21 during a streak of six consecutive pins for the Nittany Lion.

NCAA Championships Team Standings after Session I (Round Two Participants)
1. - Iowa - 18.5 (8)
2. - Ohio State - 17.0 (10)
3. - Penn State - 16.0 (7)
4. - Michigan - 13.0 (7)
5. - NC State - 12.0 (8)

At 157 pounds, a healthy Jason Nolf came out firing in the NCAA first round with a 22-7 tech fall, controlling Central Michigan's Colin Heffernan from start to finish. Third-seeded Nolf will now meet Wisconsin's Andrew Crone in tonight's second session.

Vincenzo Joseph continued the momentum, recording a 15-4 major decision with 3:21 in riding time before Mark Hall added a 12-2 major decision with 3:38 in riding time.

Hall, the No. 2 seed at 174 pounds, led 7-0 at the end of two periods before using a strong third period to power his way into the second round. His matchup includes a meeting with Purdue's Dylan Lydy, who he majored, 11-3, with 1:45 in riding time in a mid-January outing at Rec Hall.

At 184 pounds, Bo Nickal only added to the momentum with yet another major decision, taking care of South Dakota State's Martin Mueller, 16-4.

One of two Nittany Lions making his NCAA Championships debut, Penn State's Shakur Rasheed battled the Citadel's Sawyer Root to a 4-4 tie headed into the final period. Rasheed responded with a reversal before nearly pinning Root, earning four back points from the cradle to pull ahead for good. Rasheed will meet UNC'S Daniel Chaid in the second round after registering a 13-5 major with 2:15 in riding time in his first NCAA Championships victory.

Penn State punctuated its opening session with a Nick Nevills pin, giving the Nittany Lions a promising boost in the team standings. Nevills went up 8-0 before pinning Kent State's Stephen Suglio.

The Nittany Lions are back at it in session two starting at 7 p.m. in Quicken Loans Arena.

Up Next

133: Corey Keener, Sr. - Consolation 1
vs. Cam Sykora, North Dakota State

141: #8 seed Nick Lee, Fr. - Consolation 1
vs. No. 9 Josh Alber, Northern Iowa

149: #1 seed Zain Retherford, Sr. - Second Round
vs. No. 16 Alfred Bannister, Maryland

157: #3 seed Jason Nolf, Jr. - Second Round
vs. No. 14 Andrew Crone, Wisconsin

165: #3 seed Vincenzo Joseph, So. - Second Round
vs. No. 14 Branson Ashworth, Wyoming

174: #2 seed Mark Hall, So. - Second Round
vs. No. 15 Dyland Lydy, Purdue

184: #1 seed Bo Nickal, Jr. - Second Round
vs. No. 16 Jordan Ellingwood, Central Michigan

197: #5 seed Shakur Rasheed, Jr. - Second Round
vs. Daniel Chaid, North Carolina

285: #3 seed Nick Nevills, Jr. - Second Round
vs. No. 14 Michael Boykin, NC State